*Please note that this syllabus should be regarded only as a general guide to the course and is subject to change at the instructor’s discretion.
ECON 113202, Principles of Economics ‐ Macro
Boston College Summer Session 2016 Summer Session 2, June 28‐August 4 T TH 6:00‐9:15
Instructor Name: Jacob Penglase
BC E‐mail: penglase@bc.edu
Phone Number: 978‐317‐2858
Office: Maloney 391C
Office Hours: T TH 3:30‐5:00 or by appointment
Boston College Mission Statement
Strengthened by more than a century and a half of dedication to academic excellence, Boston College commits itself to the highest standards of teaching and research in undergraduate, graduate and professional programs and to the pursuit of a just society through its own accomplishments, the work of its faculty and staff, and the achievements of its graduates. It seeks both to advance its place among the nation's finest universities and to bring to the company of its distinguished peers and to contemporary society the richness of the Catholic intellectual ideal of a mutually illuminating relationship between religious faith and free intellectual inquiry. Boston College draws inspiration for its academic societal mission from its distinctive religious tradition. As a Catholic and Jesuit university, it is rooted in a world view that encounters God in all creation and through all human activity, especially in the search for truth in every discipline, in the desire to learn, and in the call to live justly together. In this spirit, the University regards the contribution of different religious traditions and value systems as essential to the fullness of its intellectual life and to the continuous development of its distinctive intellectual heritage.
Course Description
This course is an analysis of national income and employment, economic fluctuations, monetary and
fiscal policy, inflation, growth, and international aspects of macroeconomic policy. \\
http://www.bc.edu/content/bc/schools/advstudies/courses.html
Textbooks & Readings (Required)
Modern Principles of Macroeconomics, 3rd Edition, by Tyler Cowen and Alex Tabarrock.
Canvas
Canvas is the Learning Management System (LMS) at Boston College, designed to help faculty and students share ideas, collaborate on assignments, discuss course readings and materials, submit assignments, and much more ‐ all online. As a Boston College student, you should familiarize yourself with this important tool. For more information and training resources for using Canvas, click here.
Course Objectives [For the first 2 learning objectives, please utilize Appendix A‐‐ at the end of this document‐‐ as a guide to the formation of clear course objectives.
At the completion of this course, students will be able to: 1. Build economic models that describe significant parts of our economic system. 2. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of economic models and frameworks. 3. Apply economic models to current events using graphical analysis and economic reasoning. 4. Explain economic analyses in a manner that is understandable to the general public. 5. Demonstrate knowledge about the impact of culture, gender, and age in macroeconomics as demonstrated by the history of economic growth and labor markets. 6. Demonstrate ethical competency pertaining to macroeconomic markets as demonstrated by cost‐benefit analyses and the choice of economic system. Grading
Attendance and Class Participation: 5% Gapminder Project: 10% You will work in small groups to create a short (no more than 5 minutes) video in which you tell a story behind some aspect of a Gapminder world graph. More information will be provided during the second class. Homework Assignments: 15% Problem sets are worth a relatively small portion of your grade, but they are the best way to learn the material. It will be difficult to succeed on the exams without completing the problem sets. Homework assignments will be completed through Sapling. Quizzes: 30% In‐class, closed‐book quizzes on July 14th an July 28th. Make‐up quizzes will not be given: if you miss one of the midterm exams, your final exam will count as 55% of your grade. Final Exam: 40% In‐class, closed‐book quizzes on August 4th. The undergraduate grading system for Summer Session is as follows:
A (4.00), A‐ (3.67)
B+ (3.33), B (3.00), B‐ (2.67)
C+ (2.33), C (2.00), C‐ (l.67)
D+ (l.33), D (l.00), D‐ (.67)
F (.00)
All students can access final grades through Agora after the grading deadline each semester. Transcripts are available through the Office of Student Services.
Deadlines and Late Work
Assignments are due at the beginning of the class period on the specified dates. Late assignments will be accepted, but the
highest possible score a student can earn will fall 10\% for each day that the assignment is late.
Course Assignments It is expected that 8 hours per week of your study time out of class will be spent on homework assignments and readings. These are listed below. Please note that some weeks will require more time and some weeks less time but the average is approximately 8 hours per week over the session. Course Schedule
Date/Week
Topic
June 28
June 30
July 5
July 7
July 12
July 14
July 19
July 21
July 26
July 28
August 2
August 4
Syllabus and Micro Review
Comparative Advantage and Trade
Macroeconomic Data
The Wealth of Nations
Solow Growth Model
Savings and Investment
Unemployment
Inflation
AD-AS
AD-AS
Monetary and Fiscal Policy
Final Exam
Reading/Assignments
CT3 & CT4 CT2 and CT19
CT6 & HW1 Due
CT7
CT8 & HW2 Due
CT9 & Quiz 1 CT11 & HW3 Due
CT12
CT13 & CT14 & HW4 Due
CT13 & CT14 & Quiz 2
CT15‐18 & HW5 Due
Final Exam Written Work
Summer Session students are expected to prepare professional, polished written work. Written materials must be typed and submitted in the format required by your instructor. Strive for a thorough yet concise style. Cite literature appropriately, using APA, MLA or CLA style per your instructor’s requirements. Develop your thoughts fully, clearly, logically and specifically. Proofread all materials to ensure the use of proper grammar, punctuation and spelling. For writing support, please contact the Connors Family Learning Center.
Attendance
Attending class is an important component of learning. Students are expected to attend all class sessions. When circumstances prevent a student from attending class, the student is responsible for contacting the instructor before the class meets. Students who miss class are still expected to complete all assignments and meet all deadlines. Many instructors grade for participation; if you miss class, you cannot make up participation points associated with that class. Makeup work may be assigned at the discretion of the instructor. If circumstances necessitate excessive absence from class, the student should consider withdrawing from the class. Consistent with BC’s commitment to creating a learning environment that is respectful of persons of differing backgrounds, we believe that every reasonable effort should be made to allow members of the university community to observe their religious holidays without jeopardizing their academic status. Students are responsible for reviewing course syllabi as soon as possible, and for communicating with the instructor promptly regarding any possible conflicts with observed religious holidays. Students are responsible for completing all class requirements for days missed due to conflicts with religious holidays.
Accommodation and Accessibility
Boston College is committed to providing accommodations to students, faculty, staff and visitors with disabilities. Specific documentation from the appropriate office is required for students seeking accommodation in Summer Session courses. Advanced notice and formal registration with the appropriate office is required to facilitate this process. There are two separate offices at BC that coordinate services for students with disabilities:
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The Connors Family Learning Center (CFLC) coordinates services for students with LD and ADHD. The Disabilities Services Office (DSO) coordinates services for all other disabilities. Find out more about BC’s commitment to accessibility at www.bc.edu/sites/accessibility.
Scholarship and Academic Integrity
Students in Summer Session courses must produce original work and cite references appropriately. Failure to cite references is plagiarism. Academic dishonesty includes, but is not necessarily limited to, plagiarism, fabrication, facilitating academic dishonesty, cheating on exams or assignments, or submitting the same material or substantially similar material to meet the requirements of more than one course without seeking permission of all instructors concerned. Scholastic misconduct may also involve, but is not necessarily limited to, acts that violate the rights of other students, such as depriving another student of course materials or interfering with another student’s work. Please see the Boston College policy on academic integrity for more information.